Yang CW, Chu YH, Chen HC, Huang WC, Chen PJ, Chang WK. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Performed by Gastroenterologists: Opportunistic Screening Strategy for Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancers.
Front Oncol 2022;
12:793318. [PMID:
35692778 PMCID:
PMC9185840 DOI:
10.3389/fonc.2022.793318]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim
Approximately 66% of head and neck cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. This prospective study aimed to detect newly diagnosed head and neck cancers using regular upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy with oral-pharynx-larynx examination.
Methods
A total of 2,849 patients underwent UGI endoscopy with an additional oral-pharynx-larynx examination. Patients aged < 20 years, those who were pregnant, had a history of head and neck cancers, were undergoing emergency endoscopy, and had a poor laryngopharyngeal view were excluded. The symptoms, incidence, location, pathology, and stage of malignant neoplasms were investigated.
Results
A total of 2,720 patients were enrolled. Endoscopically observable 23 abnormal findings (0.85%) included 18 (0.66%) benign lesions and 5 (0.18%) newly diagnosed malignant neoplasms. Notably, 4 (80%) of 5 patients with malignant neoplasms were diagnosed at an early stage (Stage 0, I, and II).
Conclusions
UGI endoscopy with oral-pharynx-larynx examination can achieve opportunistic head neck cancer screening and is recommended for every patient in endoscopy units.
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